Tackling Numbers Shortlisted For Sports Award

Premiership Rugby and MBNA's ground-breaking Tackling Numbers programme has been shortlisted for an award at the Sports Marketing 360 Awards in the "Making a Difference" category.

The Awards sees Premiership Rugby up against a host of international projects with the winners selected by you, the winners are selected by public vote and will be announced following Sports Marketing 360 on September 27th at BT centre in London. Votes can be cast at www.sportsmarketing360.com/awards until the 5th September 2012.

Tackling Numbers is an interactive numeracy programme for young children, developed and delivered by Premiership Rugby in partnership with MBNA. The five week programme aims to teach 8-9 year olds the importance of number skills in everyday life.

The rugby-themed programme is delivered in schools by representatives from all 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby clubs, through both classroom sessions and practical number-based rugby games.

This innovative and engaging programme makes learning about numbers fun, exciting and rewarding. It also inspires children to both improve their numeracy skills and their physical health.

Current Saracens captain Borthwick said: "I was privileged to help launch the Tackling Numbers programme in 2010 and I am really pleased to see that it has now received national recognition. I am delighted for everyone who has been involved in the programme. They should all be very proud."

In the 2010-11 academic year the programme reached 8,400 children in 280 schools within 14 regions across England. The schools also received a lasting legacy of equipment including a Teacher Resource pack containing all the programme content, access to an online information resource, and tag rugby equipment so that the school can continue to play.

Wayne Morris, Head of Community at Premiership Rugby, said: "It's fantastic news that Tackling Numbers has been shortlisted for this prestigious award and hope that the rugby public will come out and support it by voting.

"Rugby has long been seen as a social game that unites and brings people from all over the world together. In more recent years rugby's ability to engage with children is being used to transcend into the classroom.

"The Tackling Numbers Programme in partnership with MBNA utilises the power of rugby to promote the understanding and learning of numeracy in a fun and enjoyable way. The classroom sessions are supported by practical PE sessions that unite an active mind with an active body."

John Greaves, Corporate Communications Director for MBNA, said: "We have been thrilled with the success of the Tackling Numbers programme and with the positive feedback it has received. The power of sport, combined with creative social and community programmes, can deliver fantastic results and give children memorable experiences to last them a lifetime.

"We believe it is important to equip young people with the knowledge and tools to help them manage their money in the future. Engaging them in mathematics in a practical and enjoyable way, with some of the stars of English rugby, allows us to provide a foundation for good financial literacy in adulthood."

Programme Stats

77.4% of teachers thought that an improvement in students attitude to maths/numeracy was shown after the programme

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